Frigid Temps Snap Several Waterlines

January 30, 2014

Work to repair a waterline break on Howard Street in Bridgeport is finished, but workers are still dealing with the Laipple Street break.

And in Wheeling, Wetzel Street residents who live in the 3700 block were issued a 48-hour boil order due to waterline break there Wednesday.

Bridgeport Water Department office clerk Robin Bursee said two line breaks occurred Wednesday morning - one on Laipple Street and another on Howard Street.

The Howard Street break happened near the Marion Street bridge intersection, forcing the closure of that section of Howard Street. Black ice could be seen covering the road. Motorists were forced to find detours on their morning commutes to work.

By about 2 p.m. the Howard Street work was finished.

"Howard Street is complete now and only residents who lost water in that area are under a 48-hour boil order," Bursee said. "On Laipple Street, they're assessing that to see if they can direct the water running off of it so it's not running down onto (U.S. 250)."

Bursee said crews would be working on that break today.

"No one is without water now - it's not that bad of a leak. It was running onto U.S. 250 and it was freezing. They want to redirect the water so it doesn't cause iciness. They may do that first and then start work tomorrow," she said.

Bursee said people probably would not have discolored water unless they lost water service. In that case, those people also should boil their water before using it during the next 48 hours.

Another break occurred Monday on Main Street in the village causing some businesses and residents to lose water. Some Howard Street residents who experienced discolored water were anticipating the boil order from that break to expire Wednesday evening.

Bursee was not sure if Howard Street was reopened to through traffic Wednesday afternoon.

"Even with the street closed you can still get around. They just don't want it open while they're working. People can still go to Citizens Bank - there's just no through traffic," she said.